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Posted 12/17/2007 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
The world has been spinning on & off since Friday. I can't get in to see the Dr till Tues AM. --- Do you guys find you have much vertigo associated with medications? --- Can anyone tell me what an ear infection is like when inflammation is dampened due to prednisone? I am wondering as I have been to see my PCP 3-4 times in the last 5-6 years thinking I had an ear infection and they have never found anything. I don't really want to go in again and look like an idiot! The dizziness is not major, it comes & goes, but I don't feel like I should be driving. Also I'm supposed to be flying on Saturday and the though of flying w/an ear infection isn't very appealing. Thanks for sharing your dizzy experiences,
Posted 12/17/2007 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
hi lynnwood, sorry your not feeling so well, whenever i have had an ear infection, i usually have a lot of pain in my ear and jaw, as for the dizziness i actually had a bout of vertigo a year back and my doc told me to take some dramamine (non drowsy) to help with the equalibrium. and most of the time i have notice when i do have an ear infection, the pred never really covered up inflammation. those are just my 2 cents. hope you feel better soon.
Posted 12/17/2007 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I have a problem with being dizzy and it has nothing to do with meds or ear infection. Prior to Lupus dx I noticed it being my bodies way of telling me to slow the hell down. When I am "lupus" tired I will get dizzy and the only that makes the world stop spinning is me in my bed with my eyes closed. I can wake up and feel rested, however when i get up to pee if I still have the dizzy's I need more sleep whether or not I feel like it. It blows over after I sleep enough.
Posted 12/17/2007 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Chaya, Does your kind of dizziness ever last multiple days? I'm certainly tired enough so that your experiance fits in some ways, but I've had the room spinning on & off for 4 days now.... Thanks, Applesk82/Suzanne, I will try the Dramamine if the dr says this isn't an ear infection - great idea. Thanks,
Posted 12/17/2007 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Lynn,

 

Sorry to hear you're struggling with this.  I have dizziness problems that aren't related to anything with my ears.  I spent over a year seeing specialists and they couldn't find anything either.  So my rheumy, family doc and neurologist have chalked it up to my fibro and lupus.  I know that when I'm flaring slightly, the dizziness gets bad.  Like Chaya, it's my warning sign to slow down.  I'm overdoing it.

 

October was a rough month for the dizzies.  I had a lupus and a fibro flare all month.  When those cleared up, the dizziness went away.

 

I hope you get the answers you need.  It's awful living with it.

 

Ginny

Posted 12/17/2007 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Lynnwood,

If I am not careful , yes it can go on and on. I have to listen very carefully to my body and what the signs are. The dizzy's dont kick in until I have depleted myself till the point of my body needing to cut me off. I have had a time where 3 days I spent in bed and couldnt get up with exception to pee. I tend to more have a couple of weeks where I am pearched on a cliff. I might have a bad dizzy day then the next day I sleep a good 14 or 15 hours and I stave it off. The next day I push my limits and the dizzy slams me on my a@@. I have learned to sleep even when I dont think I am tired. Problem is if I wait for " tired " I am over tired so the cycle continues. Everyones body is so different and I know for me this is one that upsets me alot. I hate my body being in control of me. It decides when and where and if its going to cooperate with me. I wish you luck and I actually hope the Dramamine works as it is an easy fix.
Posted 12/18/2007 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lynnwood, I have problems with dizzyness and pain in my left ear that can go on for weeks at a time. The dizzy's aren't to bad as long as I do't move to fast. The rheumy looked in myear a couple of months ago and said they wern't even red. I actualy have done some reading up on it and a lot of people with Lupus get TMJ. I don't know if it's from the stress or what. The more I investagated the more I realized it was indeed TMJ. My ear/jaw was popping quite a bit at that point but more resently The poppping has gone away along with the pain. It does come and go though so it won't surprise me if the pain comes back.

Posted 12/18/2007 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Dr says no ear infection -- just unexplained vertigo...arg.
Posted 12/18/2007 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Lynn,

Inner ear infections cause vertigo most of the time. An inner ear infection is pretty difficult to diagnose. If the doctor simply looked inside your ear, theres no way he could tell if it was inner ear. You can have this even if your middle ear and eardrum look perfectly normal. I had a bout of inner ear about a month ago, and my world spun something awful for about two weeks. I had no choice but to work through it... and remember one Saturday sitting here at my desk just wanting to hurl it was so bad. A friend of mine actually was diagnosed with hers after she was told she had a brain tumor and had a CAT scan.

Do you have a neurologist? Mine actually put me through some equilibrium testing to diagnose mine. I would definitely go further with this with a specialist... but thats just me.

Blessings,
Posted 12/19/2007 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
It's only been a few days -- my dr did do some simple neuro tests as well as check out the ears. Right now we're going with the prescript ion-strength Dramamine. Too dizzy to be om computer much, but will certainly have drs check me out in more detail if doesn't clear up shortly... Thanks,
Posted 12/19/2007 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
Additional question -- I don't think I've ever had dizziness from an ear infection increase because of stimulus -- but only because of head movement. I was in a mall w/people moving around and escalators moving, and the vertigo increased -- wouldn't that be more of an indication of vertigo? I'm so confused. What if it's an ear infection and it's not treated w/antibiotics and I get on a plane Saturday????
Posted 12/19/2007 5:29 AM (GMT 0)

Yes Vertigo does get worse with movment. Have you ever had an MRI done on your brain? I know a small number of people do get vertigo simply by having Lupus. Because Lupus can attack your brain anywhere it wants to.

As far as the plane goes  of course every one is different but I have flown with ear infections and had no problem. You might try taking a decongestant and bring some cotton ball with you just in case. You have been mentioning this problem with vertigo for a while now. I would almost bet the farm it's not an inner ear problem and more a lupus brain/vertigo problem. Have you checked you meds to see if vertigo is a side effect of any of them? I don't know how you are fixed with insurance but if all possible you really need a brain scan especially if it's starting to effect your ability to drive.

hugs

carol

Posted 12/27/2007 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Lynnwood . . . .thinking about you and wondering how you are feeling by now. I haven't seen you post in about a week and hope you are feeling better. Did you fly ok??? How is the dizziness??? Blessings!
Posted 12/27/2007 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I found some antibiotics in my medicine cabinet and there were enough of the right kind to treat an ear infection, so I went ahead and treated it. I am convinced my Dr was wrong and that it was an infection, as it cleared up right away w/antibiotics. My plane flight was fine and now I am back home, feeling fine if a little tired from the trip. Now to get the house back in order from this Christmas & travel mess and get the New Year started off on the right foot! Thanks,
Posted 12/28/2007 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
*phewwww!!!* Glad all is well Lynnwood. Thanks for the update and don't do too much after being tired from the trip!! Save some for the next day!! Blessings!
Posted 12/28/2007 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Lynnwood,

   I'm glad your feeling better. Vertigo is awful!! Hope it doesn't come back for you. Take care.

                                                             Babs

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